Sleep Articles

Insomnia, whether related to stress or caused by other factors, can easily degrade a person's quality of life enormously. Not sleeping well can have a terrible effect on anyone's ability to function at peak performance as well as their general state of mind. While medication can certainly knock a person out, this also means only treating the surface problem without taking care of the root causes of insomnia.

Insomnia, which affects a large number of people, can be the result of poor habits, issues which are bothering you or even something as simple as the environment you sleep in. Talking to a sleep therapist can help you to identify what is keeping you from getting valuable rest, as discussed in more detail in the articles below.

Sleep
Sleep is a natural and essential state that the body goes into after a long day. It alters your state of consciousness and your senses are heightened. When you’re asleep, your body reacts to stimuli differently than it does when you’re awake. Your brain patterns are entirely different when you’re asleep. There are repetitive cycles that your sleep goes into during sleeping. The two modes are REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. When in REM sleep, there are times when a person can go into sleep paralysis, meaning that they can’t move. Sleep paralysis can be frightening, but it doesn’t happen to everybody. It’s a feeling of being conscious but completely unable to move your body. It’s terrifying for those people who experience it. Some people talk in their sleep or sleepwalk. What people do in their sleep they may not remember, because they’re in a deep state of consciousness.
Sleep is restorative
Sleep is a time when your body gets to heal. It’s quiet and your body shuts down and takes inventory of what needs to heal. When you’re sleeping, your bodies organs and systems are in an anabolic state. You’re getting restored. Your immune system is getting restored, your muscular systems are in restoration, and sleep helps with cognitive function as well. Most people find that their mood is better when they’re getting adequate sleep.
Circadian rhythms
Circadian rhythms are what tell the body when to be asleep and when to be awake. Everyone's circadian rhythms differ, and if you have a sleep disorder, your circadian rhythm will be off. Most adults have a dip in energy in the middle of the night between 2 am and 4 am. That's when part of your hypothalamus controls your circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is not stagnant, and it tends changes as you get older. But, what is circadian rhythm? Circadian rhythm is the 24-hour cycle that tells you when to go to bed, when to rise, when to eat, and so on. It’s a physiological process in the body that animals, fungi, and even cyanobacteria go through.
Healthy sleep habits
Sleeping helps our bodies and minds. Don’t underestimate the importance of rest. You might feel like you can live on three or four hours of sleep, and while you can function on that amount, you’re not thriving. It’s important to give your body a chance to rest so you can function well during the day. When you have enough rest, you’re able to think clearly and make good decisions. Healthy sleep habits are important because sleep has a regenerative property. It’s essential to try to get at least 8 hours of sleep per day because your body needs that time to regenerate and heal. If you don’t get enough sleep, you may become irritable. Lack of sleep can cause or contribute to depression and other mental health issues.
Tips you can use to get better sleep
Two hours before bedtime, stop using electronics, including your phone, television, and computer.
Use your bed for only sleeping and sex.
Exercise and maintain healthy eating habits.
Make sure that your bedroom is a quiet place.
Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature.
If you haven’t fallen asleep after 20 minutes of trying to, get out of bed, some people find that reading helps them fall asleep.
Sleep problems
If you’re having problems sleeping, it’s essential to troubleshoot and see what’s going on with you. An excellent place to start is your general doctor. Explain your symptoms to your doctor. Are you restless at night? Do you have nightmares? Are you having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? These are all things to consider. Sleep is an essential part of our lives, and if you aren’t sure what’s going on or why you’re having trouble sleeping, it might be helpful to talk to a mental health professional, such as a therapist. Online therapy is a great place to start exploring sleep issues.
Online counseling
Don’t ignore your sleep issues You can talk about them with a mental health professional who will support you in solving them. Online counseling is an excellent resource to talk about what’s preventing you from getting good sleep. Search the network at BetterHelp here to find a therapist that will help you with these issues.

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

Your session is about to expire!

You will be logged out in seconds.

If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger - don't use this site. These resources can provide you with immediate help.